Odum for FOY

[sycamorestateofmind]

Yeah my intention wasn't to knock Doug, he's a good player no doubt and deserving of the award. Hell fan polls on our own fan site proved two things to me, A. both players are very deserving and B. even our own fans don't think he will win.

I think that probably says a little more about the lack of promotion/hype around Odum than anything else. I think most of the Sycamore fans realize that this isn't a battle worth fighting because it was decided months ago that McDermott was going to get this award and their in lies the problem for me. It's not that he's going to get the award, if your going to lose to someone he's a heck of a ball player to lose to. However the fact that Odum get's pushed over as a contest to see who get's second is doing the kid a great injustice. He's earned to get a fair look - if for nothing else, leading his team to a 3rd place finish in the Valley (the first the time Sycamores have finished in even the top half of the Valley since 2000). That was 10 years ago fellas, the Sycamores just don't finish in the top half of the Valley for no reason - it's just never been the case for us.

Do I realize that Odum probably is not going to win this award let alone get any votes? Heck yeah I realize it, I wouldn't be here pleading my case if I felt any differently about the situation. It was decided months ago and I understand the reasons behind it - but that doesn't make it the right choice. I will honestly feel that he will have been slighted by the voters if he doesn't get selected - it's really just that simple. I believe he's (Odum) the more deserving player

[LMS]

Odun reminds me a lot of some of CU's former point guards who weren't flashy but were great players. Odum won't win the award but I think any team would like to have him.

[TylerDurden]

If you vote on the basis that the following don't matter then I concede my entire argument and I will not be back to MVCfans.com (yes I will take my ball and go home) and I thank everyone for keeping it friendly.

Leadership - Odum is more of a leader to his team, hands down. This is completely subjective. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not.

Best Player on the team that finished higher in the ranks than the other players teams in question

MVC stats - Odum has been the better player statistically during MVC play By which statistics? - not scoring, rebounding, shooting, three-point percentage - The only statistical advantage he has is in steals and assists, which can been attributed to the position difference, no? Why would a forward have more assists than a PG?

Steals - Top 2 in the MVC all season long, 7th in the nation

Assists - Top 2 in the MVC all season long

Pre Season projections (Sycamores picked 7th) if that holds no weight then stop doing pre season rankings - this is definitely a plus, but we're talking about an individual award, and really, this isn't the year to be bragging about finishing third when you're three games back of the top two and neither of them looks to be in at-large consideration.

Overall Stats (players stats relative to his position and his size) If you can explain to me how a player with only 9 steals on the season and 3 blocks is deserving of any award is silly to me. You're cherry-picking here. The overall stats don't support Odum vs. McDermott

SOS - Sycamores played a more difficult non-conference slate - plus for Odum

Head-to-Head - Odum posted career highs in assists (9) and points (23) in game(s) vs. Creighton - McDermott had 18/8 and 25/7 against Indiana State, 14-25 FG total. Odum had 7/9 assists and 22/4 assists, 8-18 FG total - and they split games. This is a wash, at best.


I'm moving on now, you guys obviously don't take these things into consideration when selecting these kind of awards. I have presented my case and I've spelled it out for you - a select few of you have even been able to attempt to spell anything out for me. You don't have a good case that's why - you got nothing to go on but points and rebounds - both of which Odum happens to do pretty well. He's not a complete scrub at those statistics like McDermott is blocks, steals and assists.

I've added some comments.

I appreciate your support for Odum, but you're also glossing over some important details and using some pretty subjective things in your case.

[TNMSUFAN]

There's three really good freshmen in the MVC this season in McDermott, Rice and Odum. Good for the future of the league.

Drake has two other freshmen who redshirted this season. Amazingly, both were rated higher (by ESPN) than Rice coming out of high school.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/school/_/id/2181/class/2010

I really think Nathan Scheer is another very good freshman but he is overshadowed on a senior dominated team right now. I think people will really be surprised how good he is next year when he starts and plays 25+ every night.

Concerning the discussion McDermott will win it easily but I could see Odum finishing 2nd...should be very close

[dgreenwell3]

I have always said that the PG position is like the QB of the court. And I think he is deserving to at least not be scoffed at by a sycamorehater (beatingrillz) mostly...thats all...geaux trees...

[dgreenwell3]

Kyle Weems should be DPOY 5th in steals 6th in blocks.

No player who costs his team a w by fouling a guy with little to no time on the clock shouldbe considered dpoy also won't happen tho....Odum is one of the premier perimeter defenders in the Valley would Love to see him win it the only trophy that matters to me tho is the one bein held on Sunday of arch madness

[Aces1982]

I wonder if players were swapped, McDermott on ISU-B and Odum on CU, if some ISU-B fans would be saying that Odum deserves FOY?

[give me heart]

The only way to compare apples to apples is their conference games...common oppontents played twice each. Conference statistics:

Odum has 83 assists....McDermott has 16
Odum has 37 steals.....McDermott has 4
Odum has 3 blocks......McDermott has 1
Odum has played 32.5mpg....McDermott has played 30.6mpg
Odum has scored 197point...McDermott has scored 263
Odum is averaging 4.5 rebounds per game....McDermott is averaging 8.0 rebounds per game.

There is an arguement for both players to get FOY
I believe that Odum has a better all around game. I believe that when a player has a high assist to turnover ratio it equates into making his teammates better. Odum's is 2.0 and McDermott's is 0.4. Defense is often an overlooked area of the game. Most coaches will tell you that the unsung hero of their team is their defensive specialist. Seeing that Odum leads the conference in steals says there is something special about this freshman.

Good Luck to all the teams in the Valley....Hopefully the teams representing them in post season play make a statement for our Conference. ARCH MADNESS one week away.

[St. Sebastian]

I wonder if players were swapped, McDermott on ISU-B and Odum on CU, if some ISU-B fans would be saying that Odum deserves FOY?

That cuts both ways. If you made that switch, would McDermott be dismissed because he's not on one of the conference's traditional powers? Or in its biggest media market?

Whatever. Both players are deserving of the award.

[DUBulldog]

Just to pimp Rayvonte Rice a little:

His team ranking in various stats:

Points.....1st (2.5 ppg over next player on the team)

Rebounds..1st (how many guards lead their team in rebounding?)

Assists.....2nd

Steals......1st

Blocked shots...tied for 1st (again, how many guards lead their team in blocked shots?)

Comparing Rice to Odum to McDermott is apples to oranges to pears. They all play different positions, each is playing in a different system, etc. I know that Rice usually draws the opponent's best defender, too.

I had heard rumors about Rice prior to his coming to Drake that he wasn't coachable, didn't pass, didn't play defense, etc, etc. He's proven to be a very coachable player, and his improvement over the season has been obvious and dramatic. He's also young for his class, didn't turn 18 until last summer (i.e. will only be 21 at the end of his Drake career). If his shot becomes a little more consistent, he will be very, very difficult to defend.